EFF statement on Western Cape High Court judgment against EFF Members of Parliament

8 February 2024

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rejects, with contempt, the Western Cape High Court's ruling, which unlawfully and undemocratically forbids six EFF Members of Parliament from participating in the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) activities and programme. It is evident, and certainly beyond reasonable doubt, that the courts continue to be part of the Ramaphosa defence mob, whose primary and sole aim is to protect the racist white capitalist

establishment. Courts in South Africa have been reduced to being part of the Ramaphosa defence mob because he is a representative and puppet of the white capitalist establishment.

The courts have refused to unseal the CR17 benefactors, the majority of whom are part of the white capitalist establishment. While the courts and state institutions such as the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), the South African Revenue Services (SARS), and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have refused to effectively hold Ramaphosa accountable for Phala Phala criminal activities which directly implicate Cyril Ramaphosa. The recent ruling by the Western Cape High Court represents a suppression of democracy and constitutional accountability in South Africa. Forbidding Members of Parliament from carrying out their constitutional obligations and duties is undemocratic, and it is abominable that the courts are part of this suppression of democracy.

The capture of the judiciary by politicians and narrow political purposes is abominable. At the centre of the deterioration of Zimbabwe's democracy was, amongst other things, a captured judiciary and we will not allow this to happen in South Africa. The judiciary of South Africa is beyond any doubt captured and now part of the mob that will collapse democratic accountability.

Consequently, all EFF Members of Parliament will not participate in the 2024 SONA activities and programme, as these are undemocratic and unconstitutional and the so-called State of the Nation Address in 2024 is an extended caucus of the ANC. Partial participation in the 2024 SONA activities and programme would imply that some of our Members agree with the unlawful, undemocratic, and unconstitutional decisions of Parliament to forbid and banish elected Members of Parliament. We will, therefore, not attend or participate in the ANC's extended Parliamentary caucus.

All EFF Public Representatives will dedicate their maximum attention and focus on the launch of the EFF Manifesto, taking place at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 10th February 2024. We know that our maximum focus on the Manifesto launch and election work will rescue South Africa from the undemocratic and unconstitutional rulings of Parliament and the courts. The year 2024 is going to rescue our country from the alliance of corrupt politicians and judges who are puppeteered by the white capitalist establishment.

The launch of the EFF Manifesto will reveal the systemic failures of the ruling party over the past 30 years and unveil a clear and cogent plan of action. The dying and soon-to-be-defeated ANC can use its majority and the courts to suppress and exclude the EFF, but the people of South Africa will rescue our nation from this nonsense at the National and Provincial Elections. Abuse of institutions is just the last kick of a dying horse, and we will emerge victorious.

Despite the fact that courts under Ramaphosa have been converted into his defence mob, the EFF will appeal the ruling of the Western Cape High Court to ensure there is no legal precedent that permits Parliament to forbid elected Members of Parliament from holding the executive accountable. We will appeal the nonsensical judgement because it is backward and reminiscent of the colonial and apartheid past, where laws were arbitrarily used to suppress and prevent political participation of the majority of our people.

We call on our Ground Forces to pay maximum and optimal attention to work on the ground until election victory. No amount of intimidation and no amount of apartheid-like suppression of our democratic rights will prevent us from consolidating the ground towards a socialist future. We are the generation that this country has been waiting for, and we shall overcome!

Victory is Certain!

Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 8 February 2024